Popping Dots Loader
Three dots slowly inflate like bubbles, overstretch, and pop into a thin ring that spreads and fades, one after another. The fill and the ring are the two pseudo-elements of each dot.
Also known as: bubble pop loader, inflating dots, dots bursting animation.
HTML
<div class="ldr-popping-dots" role="status" aria-label="Loading"> <span style="--i:0"></span><span style="--i:1"></span><span style="--i:2"></span> </div>
CSS
.ldr-popping-dots {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
--d: calc(var(--s) / 3.2);
display: flex;
gap: calc(var(--s) / 5);
}
.ldr-popping-dots span {
position: relative;
width: var(--d);
height: var(--d);
}
.ldr-popping-dots span::before,
.ldr-popping-dots span::after {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset: 0;
border-radius: 50%;
}
.ldr-popping-dots span::before {
background: var(--c);
animation: ldr-popping-dots-fill 2.1s infinite;
animation-delay: calc(var(--i) * 0.7s - 2.1s);
}
.ldr-popping-dots span::after {
border: calc(var(--s) / 22) solid var(--c);
opacity: 0;
animation: ldr-popping-dots-ring 2.1s infinite;
animation-delay: calc(var(--i) * 0.7s - 2.1s);
}
@keyframes ldr-popping-dots-fill {
0% { transform: scale(0); animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.3, 1.4, 0.6, 1); }
12% { transform: scale(0.35); animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.5, 0, 0.9, 0.6); }
70% { transform: scale(0.95); animation-timing-function: ease-out; }
74% { transform: scale(1.12, 1.02); animation-timing-function: ease-in; }
76%, 100% { transform: scale(0); }
}
@keyframes ldr-popping-dots-ring {
0%, 74% { transform: scale(0.9); opacity: 0; }
76% { transform: scale(1); opacity: 1; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.7, 0.4, 1); }
94%, 100% { transform: scale(1.7); opacity: 0; }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-popping-dots, .ldr-popping-dots *, .ldr-popping-dots::before, .ldr-popping-dots::after, .ldr-popping-dots *::before, .ldr-popping-dots *::after {
animation-duration: 3s;
}
}Customizing this loader
- Color: set
--ldr-coloron the element or a parent. Currently previewing#3b82f6. - Size: set
--ldr-size. Every dimension in the snippet is derived from it. Currently previewing64px. - Speed: change the duration on the
animationshorthand. Delays on the children are relative, so they keep their rhythm. - Accessibility: the root carries
role="status"and anaria-labelso screen readers announce the wait. The reduced-motion rule at the end slows the animation for users who asked for less motion.